Royal Statues in Egypt 300 BC-AD 220

Elizabeth Brophy

Description

The aim of this book is to approach Ptolemaic and Imperial royal sculpture in Egypt dating between 300 BC and AD 220 (the reigns of Ptolemy I and Caracalla) from a contextual point of view. To collect together the statuary items (recognised as statues, statue heads and fragments, and inscribed bases and plinths) that are identifiably royal and have a secure archaeological context, that is a secure find spot or a recoverable provenance, within Egypt. This material was used, alongside other types of evidence such as textual sources and numismatic material, to consider the distribution, style, placement, and functions of the royal statues, and to answer the primary questions: where were these statues located? What was the relationship between statue, especially statue style, and placement? And what changes can be identified between Ptolemaic and Imperial royal sculpture?From analysis of the sculptural evidence, this book was able to create a catalogue of 103 entries composed of 157 statuary items, and use this to identify the different styles of royal statues that existed in Ptolemaic and Imperial Egypt and the primary spaces for the placement of such imagery, namely religious and urban space. The results, based on the available evidence, was the identification of a division between sculptural style and context regarding the royal statues, with Egyptian-style material being placed in Egyptian contexts, Greek-style material in Greek, and Imperial-style statues associated with classical contexts. The functions of the statues appear to have also typically been closely related to statue style and placement. Many of the statues were often directly associated with their location, meaning they were an intrinsic part of the function and appearance of the context they occupied, as well as acting as representations of the monarchs. Primarily, the royal statues acted as a way to establish and maintain communication between different groups in Egypt.

Sujets

• Egyptology

Informations

• Publié par: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 31 juillet 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781784911522
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

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MàY ô é ŝàUéŝ wéé ôé ïéçY àŝŝôçïàé wï éï ôçàô, éàï éY wéé à ïïŝïç à ô é Uçô à àéààçé ô é çôé éY ôççUïé, àŝ wé àŝ àç àŝ ééŝéàôŝ ô é ôàçŝ. PïàïY, é ôYà ŝàUéŝ àçé àŝ à wàY ô éŝàïŝ à àïàï çôUïçàô éwéé ïéé ôUŝ ï EY.

Brophy

Royal Statues in Egypt 300 BCAD 220

Context and Function

Royal Statues in Egypt 300 BC-AD 220

Elizabeth Brophy

Archaeopress Egyptology 10

Royal Statues in Egypt 300 BCAD 220 Context and Function

Elizabeth Brophy

Archaeopress Egyptology 10

Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Gordon House 276 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7ED

www.archaeopress.com

ISBN 978 1 78491 151 5 ISBN 978 1 78491 152 2 (e-Pdf)

© Archaeopress and E Brophy 2015

CÔÈ îàÈ: Eàŝ Sî à È CÔû Ô DîÔÇÈïà à È SÈàÈû î AÈàîà PÔÔ: E BÔY

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproducedor transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to my supervisors Prof. Bert Smith and Prof John Baines, both of whom have guided and advised me throughout this research. Thanks also to Dr. Elizabeth Frood, Dr Peter Stewart, Dr Maria Stamatopoulou, and Dr Peter Thonemann, all of whom read sections of this book and advised me during my transfer and confirmation. And Dr Robert Simpson who helped me gain insight and knowledge into the wider subject of Egyptology. Final thanks to the many people who supported me throughout this study and read multiple drafts, especially John and Geraldine Brophy, Laura Wood, Christina Jose, Zena Kamash, and many others.

Contents

Acknowledgements ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� E Chapter 1: Introduction ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Previous Scholarship ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Approach ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Chapter 2: Textual Sources����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 A. Literary sources ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 A.2. Discussion of Literary sources.......................................................................................................................... 6 A.3. Literary Sources: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 9 B. Priestly Decrees ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 B.2. Discussion of priestly decrees......................................................................................................................... 16 C. Commissioning statues ............................................................................................................................................ 21 D. Textual Sources: Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 22

Chapter 3: Cult Statues �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 A. Cult Statues of the Ptolemies in Egyptian temples.................................................................................................. 23 A.1. Egyptian cult statues ....................................................................................................................................... 23 A.2. Cults of the Ptolemies ..................................................................................................................................... 24 A.3. Arsinoe II and other single cults ..................................................................................................................... 27 A.4. Inside the temple............................................................................................................................................. 27 A.5. Leaving the temple ......................................................................................................................................... 29 A.6. Cult statues in Egyptian temples: Conclusion ................................................................................................ 30 B. Greek cult statues of the Ptolemies.......................................................................................................................... 30 B.1. Greek cult statues ........................................................................................................................................... 30 B.2. Greek cults of the Ptolemies ........................................................................................................................... 30 B.3. Thmuis ............................................................................................................................................................ 31 B.4. Hermopolis Magna.......................................................................................................................................... 33 B.5. Serapeum triad ................................................................................................................................................ 33 B.6. Greek cult statues: Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 34 C. Imperial cult statues................................................................................................................................................. 35 C.1. Imperial cult and cult statues .......................................................................................................................... 35 C.2. Imperial cult in Egypt ..................................................................................................................................... 35 C.3. Karnak............................................................................................................................................................. 36 C.4. Other Imperial statues used in cult in Egypt ................................................................................................... 36 C.5. Caesarea .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 C.6. In Egyptian temples ........................................................................................................................................ 37 C.7. Imperial cult statues: Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 39

Chapter 4: Categories and Contexts ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40 A. Categories of royal statue ........................................................................................................................................ 40 B. Egyptian temples ..................................................................................................................................................... 41 C. Metropoleis .............................................................................................................................................................. 44 D. Other contexts.......................................................................................................................................................... 47 E. Categories and context............................................................................................................................................. 47 F. Categories and Contexts: Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 49

Chapter 5: Environment of Royal statues and Egyptian Statues with Greek Features������������������������������������������������ 50 A. Environment of the Metropoleis............................................................................................................................. 50 B.1. Environment in the Temples: Medinet Madi and Tebtunis ............................................................................. 51 B.2. Location and Environment in the Egyptian Temples...................................................................................... 52 B.3. Egyptian statues with Greek features.............................................................................................................. 53 B.4. Egyptian statues with Greek inscriptions........................................................................................................ 54 C. Audience and Ethnicity............................................................................................................................................ 55 D. Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................... 55

Chapter 6: Functions of Royal Statues���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 56 A. Statue functions in the Metropoleis......................................................................................................................... 56

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B.1. Statue functions in Egyptian temples.............................................................................................................. 56 B.2. Roman statues and Egyptian temples ............................................................................................................ 57 C. Statue Function: Conclusion.................................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 7: Alexandria ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 59 A.1. Royal statues of Ptolemaic Alexandria ........................................................................................................... 60 A.2. The Serapeum ................................................................................................................................................. 60 A.3. Underwater Ptolemaic statues: The Pharos and Royal Harbour..................................................................... 62 A.4. The Hadra Dyad.............................................................................................................................................. 64 A.5. Other material and contexts ............................................................................................................................ 65 B.1. Imperial statues in Roman Alexandria ............................................................................................................ 65 B.2. Central area ..................................................................................................................................................... 65 B.3. Antirhodos Island ............................................................................................................................................ 66 B.4. Numismatic evidence for Imperial statues...................................................................................................... 66 C. Pre-Ptolemaic sculpture in Alexandria .................................................................................................................... 66 D. Alexandria: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 8: Outside Egypt ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 69 A. Meroe....................................................................................................................................................................... 69 B. Statues in Italy ......................................................................................................................................................... 69 C. Other locations......................................................................................................................................................... 70 D. Outside Egypt: Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 71 Chapter 9 Conclusion��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 72 Abbreviations ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 74 Bibliography ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 75 Catalogue������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 84

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List of Maps and Figures

Map 1. Egypt (All sites labelled with black dots provide evidence of royal sculpture) ........................................................................... vi Map 2: Find spots of the Priestly Decrees throughout Egypt ..................................................................................................................8 Figure 1. The Mendes Decree................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Figure 2. a and b; The Raphia Decree ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 3 Rosetta Stone........................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 4. Philae Decrees on Birthhouse.................................................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 5. The Pithom Stele ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 6. Procession of priests carrying shrines, on the staircase to the roof at Dendera .....................................................................18 Figure 7. Plan of Temple of Horus at Edfu .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 8. Falcon Headed Deity................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Figure 9. Offerings to Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II by Ptolemy III; Gate of Euergetes, Karnak....................................................................25 Figure 10. Ptolemy VIII and his wives receive royal status, interior wall relief, Kom Ombo ...................................................................25 Figure 11. Stele showing Tanite triad with Ptolemy IV and Arsinoe III, from Tanis................................................................................26 Figure 12.a Statue of an Aphrodite from Athribis .................................................................................................................................. 32 Figure 12.b Head of a female (goddess) from Athribis ........................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 13. Temple of Augustus at Philae ................................................................................................................................................ 38 Figure 14. Temple of Serapis, Luxor........................................................................................................................................................ 38 Figure 15. Ram-headed sphinxes lining the dromos of Karnak ..............................................................................................................41 Figure 16. Layout of Temple of Amun at Tanis ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Figure 17. Sphinxes and colossi defining the dromos and entrance of the Temple of Luxor..................................................................43 Figure 18. House structures of Karanis................................................................................................................................................... 48 Figure 19. Zeus wearing Atef Crown ...................................................................................................................................................... 51 Figure 20. a and b Standing Male from Tebtunis .................................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 21. Standing statue feet in situ, from Tebtunis ............................................................................................................................ 53 Map 3. Layout of Alexandria................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Figure 22. Plan of the Serapeum, Ptolemaic period .............................................................................................................................. 61 Figure 23. Ancient and Modern Coastline of Alexandria with relevant areas labelled...........................................................................63 Figure 24. Two coins of Commemorative Arches from c. AD 81-138 ....................................................................................................67 Table 1: The distribution of the different categories of royal statue throughout the regions of Egypt. .................................................73

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Map 1. Egypt (All sites labelled with black dots provide evidence of royal sculpture) (Image: Author)

iv